News from APCA
APCA General Manager Tim Wagner on COVID-19
I have been struggling with writing our own COVID-19 dissertation in light of the fact that you have likely received emails on the Corona Virus from every conceivable source including schools, restaurants, accountants, lawyers, airlines, hotels, and trade associations. They all say pretty much the same thing—wash your hands, keep your distance, etc. We have nothing to add to keep you safe as we’ve all been reading and watching the same things.
APCA Cancels Convention in the Bahamas
The APCA Board of Directors has been closely monitoring the coronavirus and has decided that the best course of action for the association and the safety of its members is to cancel the APCA Annual Convention scheduled for March 27-April 1 in the Bahamas. All room reservations at the Grand Hyatt will be cancelled.
APCA will contact all convention registrants via email to explain the next steps.
2019 OSHA Form 300A Deadline
OSHA is reminding employers to submit their 2019 OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) by March 2, 2020.
Who is required to submit Form 300A?
- Establishments with 250 or more employees that are required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and
- Establishments with 20 to 249 employees in certain industries. For the list of designated industries, visit https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904.41AppA.
How to submit Form 300A: Submit injury and illness data electronically at www.osha.gov/injuryreporting.
OSHA Revises National Emphasis Program to Reduce or Eliminate Worker Exposure to Silica
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established a revised National Emphasis Program (NEP) to identify and reduce or eliminate worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in general industry, maritime, and construction.
OSHA will conduct 90 days of compliance assistance for stakeholders prior to beginning programmed inspections for the NEP.
The NEP targets specific industries expected to have the highest numbers of workers exposed to silica and focuses on enforcement of the new silica standards, one for general industry and maritime (29 CFR § 1910.1053) and one for construction (29 CFR § 1926.1153). These standards became effective in June 2016, and construction employers were required to begin complying with their standard as of September 23, 2017. General industry and maritime employers were required to begin complying with their standard as of June 23, 2018.
50 Years of OSHA
U.S. Department of Labor Launches New Webpage to Observe 50th Anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a new webpage marking the 50th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the landmark worker safety and health law that led to the creation of OSHA.
OSHA Quicktakes
Employers who electronically submit OSHA Form 300A must provide an Employer Identification Number as of Jan. 2, 2020.
Working Safely in Cold Weather - During the winter season, OSHA's winter weather webpage offers tips for staying safe while working outdoors.
2019 Pipeline Leadership Conference
The 2019 Pipeline Leadership Conference will take place November 6-7 at the Hyatt Regency Houston Intercontinental Hotel in Texas.
This annual event brings together pipeline operations, engineering and construction senior executives who are driving transformation and innovation in pipeline and distribution system design, construction, and operations. View the agenda and register.
Hurricane Dorian Spares Baha Mar
While our prayers certainly go out to all those affected by Hurricane Dorian, we are happy to report that Baha Mar, home to the 2020 APCA Convention, was not directly impacted by the storm. The resort and the nearby Lynden Pindling International Airport are both fully operational, and the APCA Convention will go on as planned.
Beryllium Exposure Proposed Rules
OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) will hold a teleconference/WebEx meeting on September 9, 2019 to consider a proposed rule on occupational exposure to beryllium and beryllium compounds in the construction industry. See the Federal Register Notice for more information. Directions for signing into WebEx will be posted in the Docket and on the ACCSH web pagebefore to the meeting.
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